International Space Station Webquest

Visit: http://esa-mm.esa.int/docs/issedukit/en/html/t010605r1.html

First, "Read About It" and answer the following.

Questions:

1. How does the International Space Station get into orbit?

1. What has to be just right for the International Space Station to STAY in orbit?

1. What shape is the International Space Station’s orbit?

Then, click “Try It” at the top middle of the page and complete the 11 short interactive exercises and answer these questions about the exercises:

1. What happens as the height of the orbit is increased?

1. Do all the planets orbit around the sun at the same speed?

1. What age are you on Mars? Jupiter? Pluto?

1. What is the length of the ISS Orbit?

1. How much time does it take the ISS to orbit ONCE around the Earth?

1. How many times will the ISS orbit the Earth in 24 hours?

1. In 24 hours how many sunsets or sunrises will the ISS view?

1. How many metres per second does the ISS travel?

1. How much time would it take for the ISS to travel between London and Rome?

1. What does eccentricity refer to in space? What is a foci?

1. How are the circumference, radius, diameter, and pi related?

1. Why would you need to know the circumference or area of a circle to determine the ISS’s orbit?

If you have time, visit some of the other links to the left such as: What is the ISS? Building the ISS, Living on Board the ISS, Working on Board the ISS, and Future Voyages.

Once you have reviewed all the material, you can make a Tennis Ball Globe: http://www.challenger.org/programs/iss/GeoCreateATennisBallGlobe.pdf

OR Find when you might be able to sight the ISS center above your home: http://www.challenger.org/programs/iss/sighting.cfm